ASPHYX, UNPURE & RAZOR OF OCCAM
Getting used to this journey over to Brixton now and there are plenty of good metal shows coming up at The Fridge over the next few months. Tonight it was a case of old school black thrash metal mayhem, the attack was spearheaded by Australian ex-pats Razor Of Occam. This lot it is worth mentioning are the drunkest people I have ever seen at breakfast time as they literally terrorized our hangovers at Wacken a couple of years ago. Luckily the group featuring members of Destroyer 666 and Adorior were leaving the celebrations till after their set and trooped on stage, rampaging away at a deafening volume. Guitars scythed with buzz-saw intensity, drums thundered hell for leather and the opening instrumental attack was precisely delivered, tight and vicious. The drumming was particularly impressive here; each hit was akin to being struck over the head by Thor’s hammer. Think it was advisable to move away from the speaker a bit or I was going to be deaf before the second band. Only once did they slow things down before ploughing and hacking away like Jason Vorhees at a girl guide camping trip. As much as I appreciate the new wave of thrash bands that are becoming increasingly popular it is blackened thrash with a warlike ethic such as this that really hits the spot. Razor Of Occam I am guessing have material in the pipeline. They have no web presence to speak of and to my knowledge only a couple of out of print EP’s to their name. A truly underground phenomena and an excellent live performance as numbers like ‘The Kingdom And The Darkness’ proved.
Unpure unexpectedly came on whilst I was in the loo, just as well as the sudden blasts almost caused me to crap myself (yep too much info). This lot have been around for 15 years and this was I am pretty sure their 1st UK show. My first thoughts were that they were here to pillage without any fucking mercy. To say that this deathly discourse was a bludgeoning one would be an understatement but thankfully numbers such as ‘To The Ancients’ had that all important groove behind them. There was however a monstrously filth ridden vibe about this and the twin vocal guitar bass attack was hellacious and commanding. I think they played a fair few numbers before finally pausing for breath and saying thanks. I thought this was going to be a case of \\\thrash till death/// at breakneck speed but they quickly romped off again causing the audience to whiplash themselves towards the hospital emergency room. The necrotic feast of early song ‘Otherside Of The Sea’ really stood out. This was a slower number wretchedly drowning us before dashing us back onto shore. As for ‘Betrayers Of The Black Art’ nobody would cast such aspersions on these Swedes, after a set like this, down to hell is the only direction they are gonna travel. Inexplicably the end of the set was met with the stench of a flowery perfume from the back of the bar area. Where the hell did that come from, at least Watain will clear it up on 13th October!
I had it on good authority that Asphyx absolutely pulverised at Party Sans Open Air, and they pretty much cut a new asshole out of the by now buzzing Fridge. It kind of sounded like someone had opened the gates of hell as they thundered (no other word for it) on. Asphyx are a much respected band from the vaults of Dutch death metal. They 1st appeared way back in 1987 and released 6 highly influential albums between 1991 and 2000 on Century Media before retiring.
The newly reformed group helmed by Martin Van Drunen again have come out to play but apparently have no plans for recording new material, hell tonight proved they have plenty of good old ones anyway. Many maniacs were on the front of the stage worshipping the brimstone gospel of numbers such as ‘Vermin’ in all its filth ridden rancid glory. This and ‘Evocation’ certainly put us on The Rack (sorry) and not only was the audience revelling in this but the band were beaming and looked happier than pigs in shit to be back in action.
The galloping pace was one that couldn’t be ignored and the first brave soul got on stage to head bang and shake band member’s hands. I say brave as it is fairly high off the floor and nobody during the course of this 90 minute performance actually dived off as the pit was seething rowdy and drunk this was rather sensible. One audience member got a can right between the eyes and a lass wearing a kvlt pink (the new black) top on took her chance for a dance with the singer, we almost had a pantomime going on. Back to songs like ‘Asphyx (Forgotten War) and ‘Pages In Blood’ I took a step back and watched the glorious carnage erupting and can safely say that this was one hell of a show all round.
Another plug for hosts StrataNael (and Red Raven cheers too) Watain, Impiety and Pentacle here on October 13th, you’d be daft not to be there!
Pete Woods
LONDON THE FRIDGE 22/09/07